The story of Agent Orange and its impact on Vietnam-era vets has played out on a public stage, with much more press coverage of and commentary on the issue than occurred with asbestos.

For an interminable period of time veterans complained about various illnesses and the military command structure was resolute in denying any connection between the herbicides and veteran complaints. It’s been a very slow turn to the situation today, when the VA provides volumes of information on Agent Orange-related illnesses and health issues. The lawsuits started in 1979.

In 1983 as the result of a class action lawsuit, several chemical companies involved with the manufacture of Agent Orange set up a $180 million trust fund to pay damage claims filed by veterans who could claim “total disability” as the result of exposure to the herbicides.

However the guidelines for claim recognition, the requirements for proof of illness and the window of opportunity for filing those claims led to fewer than 50,000 paid claims.

The lawsuits have continued with no real civil restitution for the additional hundreds of thousands of veterans who may have been exposed, but the VA has slowly come to terms with the health damage that Agent Orange did to an entire generation of combat veterans.

In 2003 the acknowledged link between Agent Orange and chronic lymphocytic leukemia; other diseases have followed.

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Agent Orange exposure

Q. How do I know if I have a claim for Agent Orange?

A. Many Vietnam War veterans are concerned that they have been exposed to Agent Orange, the chemical herbicide used to destroy jungle foliage in order to expose enemy troops.

Public Law 107-103 provides a presumption of exposure to herbicides for all veterans who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam era.

You do not have to prove you were sprayed or in an area that was sprayed if you served in Vietnam from Jan. 9, 1962, to May 7, 1975.

However, before you begin to file a claim, you must have proof of service in Vietnam during the war time and medical documentation of the condition(s) officially recognized by VA.

The following is a list of diseases that VA recognizes as related to Agent Orange exposure:

When you go to the Ship Listing that the VA has on-line, go to the FIND YOUR SHIP link, and you will find a statement that says something like: All sailors who were on the following list of Hull Types are eligible for the presumption of exposure to herbicide.
And on that list are LST's. So every sailor that was on any LST that served in Vietnam is given the presumption of exposure. If the Regional Office is denying your claim for exposure, and you served on any LST, then they are making a mistake - a Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE). If you have any service officer at the VA or any Service Organization who does not agree with this, You can have them call me at 303-762-9540... or they can contact the Veterans Benefits Administration Service Agent Agent Orange Mailbox [VAVBAWAS/CO/211/AGENTORANGE] for a direct confirmation of this.

CONTACT VA Agent Orange and Ships
800-749-8387 (Press 3)

A Veteran must file an Agent-Orange related disability claim beforeVA will conduct research on a specific ship not on VA's ships list.

This requirement also applies to survivors and children with birth defects. VA does not have the capacity to research ships when no compensation claim is filed.

This evidence must show the ship entering the inland waterways of Vietnam, docking in Vietnam, or otherwise sending crew members ashore. A ship that anchored in an open water harbor, such as Da Nang Harbor, is not sufficient evidence for the presumption of Agent Orange exposure.

You must scan your documentary evidence and email it to the Veterans Benefits Administration's Compensation Service at 211_AOSHIPS.VBACO@va.gov. Emails sent to this email address are not secure. Please do not include personal data.